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Defending Mount Monster champion Hamish Miller reckons he's as fit as he's ever been - but don't take that as a guarantee he'll be able to back up in Saturday's prestigious surf life saving endurance race.

The 20-year-old Mount Maunganui lifeguard has switched focus this year to triathlon, swapping out board and ski paddling for miles upon miles on the bike.

Whether that translates to a second consecutive Monster title is an intriguing sub-plot in the Dexion-sponsored Monster, which will feature nearly 350 surf athletes chasing $10,000 in prizes over 24.5km along the stunning Mount Maunganui coastline.

"I've stepped up my running mileage a lot since last year, with the change in sports, and my swimming programme is relatively similar, so hopefully that will really cross over to the Mount Monster," Miller said.

"I haven't been doing much ski or board but maybe my legs being stronger will help with the leg-drive on the ski leg and board paddling. It's a different way to train and I'm intrigued how it's going to go on the day."

Now studying at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, Miller has some experience in the triathlon ranks having placed nationally at New Zealand secondary schools level and winning the national aquathon title in 2015.

After making the New Zealand youth surf life saving team in 2016, he chose to put his focus on the ocean realm, mostly because it didn't involve two wheels.

"I used to hate biking - I'd hop on and my legs would be dead by the 10km mark. This winter, I've been really focusing on getting some solid biking and running under my belt and now that I've got a little bit fitter at it, I can actually manage a 50-60km ride now. I'm enjoying it and the new type of training and the new challenge is really going well."

Miller's main competition this weekend is expected to come from his Mount Maunganui clubmate Declan Dempster, who was runner-up and under-19 winner last year.

Dempster is just back from helping the Junior Black Fins to an historic world title in Adelaide and, together with the likes of Coolangatta Gold short-course champion Joe Collins (Fitzroy), should push hard for the title.